From a large population of 15-30 million, the Native population has dropped to about 1 million today. Native have been targeted by armed forces and diseases, and have had their cultures forcibly stripped from them. Some were not given jobs or respectable positions in the early years of the US if they had not abandoned their supernatural beliefs.The Native languages and traditions diminish as years go by due to young generations not having interest in their heritage. There are many types of Native dramas. Because Natives differ by religion, language, economic culture, geographic location, and social relationships, there are countless Native cultures and traditions. Proper behavior, ethics, and religious beliefs are key to Native culture, as well as building a community through tasks such as cooking, weaving, or fishing. They feel a closeness with their relatives and feel secure in having a place for themselves in the universe. Even though Indian communities are small they have various forms of their traditional art embedded in the temporal, spatial, and emotional parts of the community. Their dramas come from deep meaning and within a sacred time and place. Places include religious grounds or ordinary living spaces. Drama's with great significance creates a tension to be shared with the performers and audience, which creates unique and more emotional atmosphere. Audience members claim as to never seeing such real acting and performances, having felt the great impact of the Native stories. Performances included myths, legends, folk tales, and mostly daily life stories. The performers would use extensive gestures, voices, and emphasis to make their stories more vivid. The Navajo named their key actor/story teller hataaxi. He would typically be an old man who would bring together people and the spiritual world by singing songs, speaking most of the dialogue, and directing the audiences attention. He plays the part as the lead actor, stage manager, choreographer, director, and playwright. Having taken place at religious centers, dramas were significant and powerful to the Native communities. Shamans created dramatic ritual type performances which included magic. They acquired powers and contacted spirits. Native American theater groups grew popular such as NATE, formed in 1972, and flourished during the 1970's. Smaller companies also grew popular during the mid 1970's. Most playwrights are written by young Indians, which is surprising and also reassuring. It shows that the Native culture and tradition has not dies and will continue to live on.
From a large population of 15-30 million, the Native population has dropped to about 1 million today. Native have been targeted by armed forces and diseases, and have had their cultures forcibly stripped from them. Some were not given jobs or respectable positions in the early years of the US if they had not abandoned their supernatural beliefs.The Native languages and traditions diminish as years go by due to young generations not having interest in their heritage. There are many types of Native dramas. Because Natives differ by religion, language, economic culture, geographic location, and social relationships, there are countless Native cultures and traditions. Proper behavior, ethics, and religious beliefs are key to Native culture, as well as building a community through tasks such as cooking, weaving, or fishing. They feel a closeness with their relatives and feel secure in having a place for themselves in the universe. Even though Indian communities are small they have various forms of their traditional art embedded in the temporal, spatial, and emotional parts of the community. Their dramas come from deep meaning and within a sacred time and place. Places include religious grounds or ordinary living spaces. Drama's with great significance creates a tension to be shared with the performers and audience, which creates unique and more emotional atmosphere. Audience members claim as to never seeing such real acting and performances, having felt the great impact of the Native stories. Performances included myths, legends, folk tales, and mostly daily life stories. The performers would use extensive gestures, voices, and emphasis to make their stories more vivid. The Navajo named their key actor/story teller hataaxi. He would typically be an old man who would bring together people and the spiritual world by singing songs, speaking most of the dialogue, and directing the audiences attention. He plays the part as the lead actor, stage manager, choreographer, director, and playwright. Having taken place at religious centers, dramas were significant and powerful to the Native communities. Shamans created dramatic ritual type performances which included magic. They acquired powers and contacted spirits. Native American theater groups grew popular such as NATE, formed in 1972, and flourished during the 1970's. Smaller companies also grew popular during the mid 1970's. Most playwrights are written by young Indians, which is surprising and also reassuring. It shows that the Native culture and tradition has not dies and will continue to live on.